Basketball

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

It was a woeful first half.

Followed by a gallant second half.

Unfortunately, the comeback came up a little short.

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes, who trailed by 15 points at halftime, battled back to within two and had a chance to tie the game or even take the lead. But they just couldn’t make enough shots down the stretch.

Meanwhile, Benton got a huge three-pointer from Evan Munoz and then made three free throws in the final 43 seconds Monday night to secure the 43-36 victory and the championship of the Carbondale Super Sectional.

The Rangers, winners of 18 straight games and owners of an impressive 32-3 record, will now play in the Class 2A State Tournament. They will face Byron at 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

After a cold shooting first half – that also included too many turnovers – the Shoes found themselves in a big-time hole when the third quarter opened. But two straight Benton miscues resulted in a jumper by Joey Niebrugge and a three-pointer by Mitch Koester.

It was exactly what the team needed. It trimmed the gap to 10 points and established a little momentum for the boys in blue and gold.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Not this year.

Not with this team.

After all, four starters – five seniors – were gone from a team that went 29-8 and finished third in the state. That same squad had also reached the super sectional the year before.

That left just one starter – Joey Niebrugge – and only one other player – Garrett Gaddis – that had any real varsity playing time. There was so much inexperience, it was expected – and widely accepted – the 2023-24 season would be a rebuilding year.

But doubters should have known better.

In Teutopolis, they never rebuild.

They only reload.

And when the Elite Eight teams take the floor Monday night in Class 2A super sectionals around the state, the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes will be among those teams that are still standing.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

There is always a scouting report.

And from that, a game plan is formulated.

Part of that game plan generally includes the player -- or players -- on the other team that require special focus. And how to go about containing or limiting their scoring or rebounding.

Chances are, when Tolono Unity was putting strategies together for its rematch with Teutopolis, Austin Bloemer was not on that list.

But – as it turns out – he should have been.

The Teutopolis senior came off the bench and turned in the best game of his career. He scored a career-high 10 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Quite frankly, he was the difference.

Thanks to Bloemer’s effort, plus a tenacious defensive performance by the entire team, the Wooden Shoes postseason run will continue.

The Shoes never trailed in the game Wednesday night and finished with a 48-39 victory in a semifinal game of the Class 2A Shelbyville Sectional.

T-Town, now 23-10, will have yet another rematch in the sectional championship. The Shoes will battle St.-Joe Ogden, who earned a berth in the finals with a 50-40 win over Flora on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Shelbyville High School.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

What a night!

Two good teams battling for 32 minutes – and beyond.

A gymnasium packed with loud and enthusiastic fans.

Officials that called a good game, but still got booed after virtually every call.

And a three-point shot in the closing minute that proved to be the game-winner.

Yes, it was high school basketball at its finest.

Dr. Naismith could never have imagined this when he first invented the game some 133 years ago.

But the best part?

The Teutopolis boys’ basketball team pulled out yet another close one to keep this magical postseason journey alive.

The Wooden Shoes have certainly brought the madness to March.

For the second game in a row, it was one of those valuable bench players that came through. Forty-eight hours prior, it was Austin Bloemer’s 10-point, 6-rebound performance that made the difference in T-Town’s win over Tolono Unity.

Friday night, it was Zac Niebrugge’s turn.

The senior reserve guard hit “nothing but net” on his shot from the corner with 38 seconds to play that put the Wooden Shoes ahead to stay and proved to be the dagger. Joey Niebrugge then converted three foul shots in the final 20 seconds to “seal the deal.”

When that final horn sounded and the THS student cheering section – affectionately known as The Shoe Box – stormed the court, the team in navy & gold had a 61-55 overtime victory over St. Joe-Ogden in the championship game of the Class 2A Shelbyville Sectional.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Joey Niebrugge must have a look.

Chet Reeder and Garrett Gaddis both saw it.

They knew the free throws were going in.

“I could see it in his eyes,” Gaddis said. “There was no doubt they were going in.”

“I saw that look in his eyes before he even stepped to the line,” Coach Reeder repeated. “He looked over at me and nodded. I knew they were going in.”

Turns out, the senior guard and veteran coach are both clairvoyant.

Just a few moments later, Niebrugge made two pressure-packed foul shots with only three seconds to play that proved to be the game-winners. When a last-second heave from beyond half court hit off the top of the backboard, the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes had a 50-48 victory over Newton Friday night in the championship game of the Class 2A Newton Regional.

“I just tried to relax,” Niebrugge said, describing what he was feeling when he went to the line in the closing seconds. “After the first one went in, I really did feel more relaxed. It was easier making the second free throw. I’m just glad I could come through for my team.”

It was the 14^th straight regional title for the Shoes, who will now advance to the Shelbyville Sectional. T-Town, now 22-10, will play at 7 p.m. Wednesday night and face Tolono Unity, who enters with a 26-4 record. The Rockets defeated Warrensburg-Latham, 65-46, to win the Monticello Regional.